By Jeramie McPeek, Suns.com
Posted: June 21, 2012
Alvin Gentry was not surprised to see the Miami Heat clinch the NBA Championship in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. In fact, he expected it.
“Miami knew they did not want to get back on a plane and fly to Oklahoma City, and they played that way,” he told ABC 15’s Craig Fouhy after the Heat knocked out the Thunder, 121-106.
The Suns’ head coach joined the local sportscaseter after each game in the championship series, providing postgame analysis. Gentry was particularly complimentary of Miami’s polarizing superstar LeBron James, who was named the Finals MVP after recording 26 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in the deciding game.
“I am personally happy for him. The series that he had was tremendous. He ends the championship run with a triple-double. He did everything that he possibly could to help this team win. He was great defensively on (Kevin) Durant. So I would hope that this quiets the critics.”
After breaking down the series, Gentry was asked about the 2012-13 season and said he hopes to be back on the sidelines for the playoffs next year, rather than sitting in a TV studio.
“It’s no fun vacationing in April,” he said. “Our goal is to get back there and eventually, we would like to be holding the Larry O’Brien trophy here and having a parade through downtown.”